High School Sports

Platt resigns as Silver Creek baseball coach

Raptors also announce Rauba as new soccer coach

Trevor Platt built the Silver Creek baseball program in the early 2000s and coached it to prominence even before the decade was over with.

After 13 years, the only baseball coach the school has ever known has decided he needed to be more available to his children than a text message or a phone call, resigning his post with the Raptors effective immediately.

While Silver Creek is also welcoming a new boys soccer coach in Vitas Rauba, it will also see one of its original cast members in Platt concluding his time as coach.

"Twenty eight years in the business, and you know, it was just time," said Platt, whose team had a few highlight wins but finished 6-13 overall this past season. "It's important to me to be around for my three kids, in person."

"We took a program that was brand new and made it to a state final four, and we sent a lot of kids off to college to play, and we've had some outstanding players. I want to thank all the players, alumni and their families and the administration for giving me the opportunity to be at Silver Creek for that long, and enjoying it all."

Platt got to coach his oldest son, Scott, the past few years until his graduation this year. Scott Platt will be continuing his baseball playing at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling.

His other children, Mandi and Ryan, will be in 10th and sixth grade, respectively, in the fall.

Advertisement

"My three kids have only known me as a coach, so it's time to step aside and be there for them as much as I can, more so than when I was a coach," Platt said. "I don't want to be in Longmont when I know (Scott) is playing. I want to watch a four-game set over a weekend, want to be able to travel and see him play."

Coach Platt turned Silver Creek into a state contender, with the team going 36-13 combined in 2009 and 2010 and making an appearance in the semifinals in 2009.

"He's done a lot for us, taken them deep into the playoffs and started a really good winning tradition here," said athletic director Marty Tonjes, adding the job is now open for applications. "One thing that was really big, one thing we will continue to do even in his absence as varsity baseball coach, is continue the program that he developed with the students with special needs over at Altona (Middle School)."

While it is unknown who will fill Platt's shoes, Rauba takes over the SCHS boys soccer program eager to get underway. Rauba is a veteran coach, player and official who has worked with all ages, both male and female.

Born and raised in New York City, Rauba has lived in Colorado for many years and even has ties to Fairview's girls program. His goals reach beyond the pitch, and that's a major factor in him wanting to coach high school.

"I think they have a pretty strong program and I think I bring some things that might help them get to that next step," Rauba said. "I look at any sporting venue as a mechanism to develop the kids' moral character ... core values for being a good person in the community. Hard work eithic, dedication and accountability, I try to incorporate all those things when I coach, not just training."

"He has experience coaching club ... and he's coached some premier men's teams," Tonjes said. "I think Vitas stood out a lot because he emphasized using soccer and other activities as a tool to develop character. He also spoke a lot of the importance of academics and preparing his players for life after soccer. That is important to us."

The Raptors had a senior-heavy squad in the fall season, and that could allow for Rauba to shape his team a little more. He said he hopes to get going very soon on workouts, knowing the importance of conditioning in his systems.

"Everybody's always doing something, and you've never going to be a spectator on the field," he said.